A- %ll'^- 13 And ' three " of the thirty chief B.C. 1055— went down, and came to David in An. Exo(i. isr. the harvcst time unto 'the cave j36-i76^ of Aduilam: and the troop of the Philistines pitched in '' tlie valley of Rephaim.
14 And David loas then in ^ an hold, and the gnrrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem.
15 And David longed, and said. Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Beth-lehem, which js by the gate!
16 And the three mighty men brake through the ho.st of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Belli-lehem, that loas by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the Lord.
17 And he said, Be it far from me, O Lord, that I should do this: is not this ' the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives }
Verse 13. The three of Ihe thirty'] The word ^■<whv shalashim, which we translate thirty, probably signifies an office, OT particular description of men. Of these shalashim we have here thirty-seven; and it can scarcely be said, with propriety, that we have thirty-seven out of thirty: and besides, in the parallel place, 1 Chron. xi. there are sixteen added! The captains over Pharaoh's chariots are termed 3»U"/I? shalashim, Exod. xiv. 7.
The Philistines pitched in the valley of Rephaim.] This is the same war which is spoken of chap. v. 17, &c.
Verse 15. T/ie water of ihe well of Beth-lehem] This was David's city, and he knew the excellence of fh« waler which was there; and being near the place, and parched with thirst, it was natural for liim to wish for a draught of water out of that well. These three heroes having heard it, though tiiey received no command from David, brake through a company of the Philistines, and brought away some of the water. SVhen brought to David, lie refused to drink it; for, as the men had got it at the hazard of their lives, he considered it as their blood, and gave thereby a noble instance of selfdenial. There is no evidence (hat David had requested them to bring it; they had gone for it of their own accord, and without the knowledge of David.
Verse 10. Poured it out unto the Lord.] To make lihfitions, both of nater and zcine, was a frequent custom among the Heathens. We have an almost similar account in Arrian's Life of.Mexandor: — " When his army was greatly oppressed with heat and thirst, a soldier brought him a cup of water: he ordered it to be carried back, saying, I can-
therefore he would not drink it. These things did these three mighty
18 And ^ Abishai, the brother of Joab, the son of Zeruiah, was chief among three. And he lifted up his spear against three hundred, '' and slew thcni, and had the name among three.
19 Was he not most honourable of three? therefore he was their captain: howbeit he attained not unto the first three.
^'0 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man, of ' Kabzeel, '' who had done many acts, ' he slew two "' lion-like men of Moab: he went down also and slew a lion in the midst of a pit in time of snow:
21 And he slew an Egyptian, ° a goodlj man: and the Egyptian had a spear in his hand; but he went down to him with a staff, and plucked the spear out of the Egyptian's hand.
not bear to drink alone, while so many are in want; and this cup is too small to be divided among the whole."
Tunc poculo plena siciit oblutiim est reddito: Non solus, iriquit, bibere sustineo, nee tarn exiguum dividere omnibus possum.— AiiRiAN, lib. vi.
The example was noble in both cases; but David added piety to bravery. He poured it out unto the Lord.
Verse 20. Two lion-like men of Moab] Some think that two real lions are meant; some, that they were two savage gigantic men; others, that two fortresses are meant. The words 3XU0 SxiN ''iV sheney ariel Moab, may signify, as the Targum has rendered it, 3N1J3 '313-1 jnn n' yat terin rabrebey Moab, " The two princes of Moab."
Verse 21. He slew an Egyptian] This man, in 1 Chron. xi. 23. is stated to have been five cubits high; about wren feet six inches.
He went down to him with a staff] I have known men who, with a staff only for their defence, could render the sword of the best practised soldier of no use to him. I have seen even a parallel instance of a man with his staff being attacked by a soldier with his hanger; he soon beat the weapon out of the soldier's hand, and could easily have slain him with his own sword.
We have a good elucidation of this in the duel between Dioxippus the Athenian, and Ilorratas a Macedonian, before Alexander. — " The Macedonian, proud of his military skill, treated the naked Athenian Mith contempt, and thea challenged him to fight with him the ensuing day. The Macedonian came armed cap a pie., to the place: on his left arm he
\i'A He Wiis "more hoiioiiriil)le than tlie tliirlv, but he atliiined not to {.he. Jirsl tlirec. And David set him '■ over liis ' pnard.''
5^4 ''Asah<'l tlie hrollici' ol" Jfiah j/v/soncof Ihe tliirly; ICIhanan (he son of Dodo of Helli hliem.
2!) lleleh (he son of Haaiiah, a Netophathile. Ittai the son of Ilibai out of(jIiijeali of the children of Benjamin, had a brazen shield, and in the same hand the spear called sarissa; he had a javelin in his right hand, and a sword girded on his side: in short, he appealed armed as iIiourIi he were goiii^ to contend with a ho.st. Dioxippus rame into the field with a cha|)let on his head, a purple sash on his left arm, his body naked, smeared over with oil; and in his riijht hand a strong knotty club, (dextrn validum nudosuniqite stipitcm prcrfcrcbaf.) Horratas, su|)po.-.iiig that he could easily kill his antagonist while at a distance, threw his javelin; which Dioxippus, suddenly stoopinsr, dexterously avoided; and, before Horratas could transfer the spear from his left to his riijht liatid, sprang forward, and with one bluw of his club broke it in two. The Maceiionian, being deprived of both his spears, began to draw his sword; but, bofore he could draw it out, Dioxippus seized him, tripj)rd up his heels, and thiew him with great violence on the ground, (pcdibus repente siihdaclis urittavil in terrain) He then put his foot on his neck, drew out his sword, and, lifting up his club, was about to dash out the brains of the overthrown champion, had he not been prevented by the king." — Q. Curt. lib. ix. cap. 7.
How similar are the two cases: lie tccrit dotcri to him tcilh a stuff, and plucked the s/ycnr out of the Epi/plian's hands, and slcic him icith his uzcn spear. Benaiah appears to have been ju«t such another clubsman as Dioxippus.
Verse '23. David set him over his guard ] The f'ulgate renders this fecitqiie cum sibi David auricularium a secreto; J)avid made him his privy counsellor: or, according to the Hebrew, he put him to his ears; i. e. confided his secrets to him. Some think he made him a spj^ over the rest. It ij
'.i{ ICIiphelet (lie ••on of.Miasbai, the Hon of the Maar.hadiite, Kliam the Hon of.\hithophel the (iilonile,
.'J7 Zelek liie Ammonite, Nahari the Beerothitc, aniioiir bearer (o Joab the son of Zerniah.
supposed that the meaning of the fable which attiibulet to Midas very long ears, is, that ihii king carried the sytem of cspiitnagc. to a great length; that he had a multitude cf 'pies in diflerent places.
Vermeil. Asahel — was one of the thirli/'] A«ahr| w.is one of those olTicers, or troops, called the shalathim. This Asahel, brother of Joab, was the same that was killed by Abner, chap. xi. 23.
Verse 25. Shnmmnh the llarodite^ There are several varieties in the names of the follow ing shalathim; which may be seen by comparing these verses with 1 Chron. xi. 27.
Verse 39. Uriah the Hitlite: thirti/ and seven in a//.] To these the author of 1 Chron. xi.4l. adds Zabad ion of Ahlai.
Verse.12. —.idina the »on of Shiza the Roubenite, a caplain of the Ueubcnites, and thirty with him.
Vi r»e 4.J. — llanan the son of Maachah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,
Verse 46. — Eliel the Maha\ite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of KInaam, and Ilhmah the Moabite,
The 4th and 5th verses are very obscure; L. De Dieu 1 gives them a good meaning, if not the true one: — I " The perpetuity of his kingdot.i Datid amplilies by a comparison to three natural things, which are very grateful to men, but not constant and stable. For the sun arises, and goes down again; the morning may be clear, but clouds afterwards arise; and the tender grass springs up, but afterwards withers. Not so, said he, is my kingdom before God; it is flourishing like all these, but perpetual, for He has made an everlasting covenant with me, though some afflictions have befallen me; and He has not made all my salvation and ilesire to grow."
De Dieu repeat? (D ke,) the note of similitude thrice;
and the following is his Version: —
" The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake unto me, (or concerning me:) the just man ruleth among men; he ruleth in the fear of God. And, as the sun ariseth with a shining light; as the morning is without clouds, by reason of its splendour; as, from rain, the tender grass springeth out of the earth; truly so is not my house with God: because He hath made an everlasting covenant with me; disposed in all things, and well kept and preserved in that order. Although He dotli not make all my deliverance and desire to grow — i. e. though some adversities happen to me and my family; yet, that always remains, which, in the covenant of God made with me, is in all things orderly, disposed, and preserved."
See Bishop Patrick on the place.
Once more I must beg the Ueader to refer to the First Dissertation of Dr. Kennicott, on the present state oj the printed Hebrew text; in which there is not only great light cast on this subject, several corruptions in the Hebrew text being demonstrated, but also many valuable criticisms on different texts in the Sacred Writings. There are two Disseri tations, 2 vols. 8vo.; and both very valuable.
David is tempted hy Satan to number Israel and Judafi, 1. Joab remonstrates against it, but the fdng determines that it shall be done; and Joab and the captains accomplish the work, and bring the sum total to the king; viz. eight hundred thousand warriors in Israel, and five hundred thousand in Judah, 2 — 9. David is convinced that he has done wrong; and the prophet Gad is sent to him, to give him his choice of three judgments; one of which God is determined to inflict upon the nation, 10 — 13. David humbles hitnself before God; and a pestilence is sent, which destroj/s seventy thousand men, 14, 15. The angel of the Lord, being about to destroy Jerusalem, David makes intetression, and the plague is stayed, 16, 17. Gad directs him to build an altar to the Lord, on the threshing-Jloor of Araunah, where the plague was stayed, 18. He purchases this place for the purpose/ and offers burnt-offerings, and peace-offerings, 19 — 25.
AND Lord was Israel, and *■ he moved David against them to say, " Go, number Israel and Judah.
2 For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was vvith him, ^ Go now through all
Verse 1. lie moved David against them^ God could not be angry with David for numbering tlie people, if He moved him to do it: but, in the parallel place, 1 Chron. xxi. 1. it is expressly said, Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel. David, in all probability, slackening in his piety and confidence toward God, and meditating some extension of his dominions, without the Divine counsel or command, was naturally curious to know whether
the tribes of Israel, ° from Dan even to Beer-sheba, and number ye the people, that "^I may know the number of the people. 3 And Joab said unto the king, Now the Lord thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, a hundred fold, and that the eyes of
the number of fighting-men in his empire were sufficient for the work which he had projected. — See more on ver. 10. He therefore orders Joab, and the captains, to take an exact account of all the effective men in Israel and Judah. God is justly displeased with this conduct, and determines that the pi-opsoi his vain ambition shall be taken away; either by famine, jzar, or pestilence.
Verse 3. Joab said unto the king"] This very bad man saw that the measure now recommended by the king was a oiynp.?ii. ^ NoiwidislaiHliiif^- Hic Kiiig'sword pioviiilcd nj^iiinst Joiil), and afjainst tlir captains of (he host..\nd.loalt and tlic (aplains <it" tlic liost \vc'nt DUt I'loin the picsence ot the- king, l<» nnmlKT the people of Israel.
5 II And tliey passed over Jordan, and pitrlied in " Aroer. on tlie right side of tlie city tliat /////( in tlie midst of the "" river of Gad, and toward ' Ja'/er:
6 Then they came to Gilead, and to the '' land ol' Tahtim-liodshi; and tliey came to
vrron^ one, and might be ruinous to the jipople; ind, therofore, lie rpiiioiist rates a^aillst it in ii \pry sensible spoccli: but tlip kii^ was iiifaluatcd, and would hear no reason.
Verse b. And pi/chctl in Ai'uer^ Tliis was beyond Jordan, on the river Arnnu, in the tribe of Gnd: hence it appoars, says Calmet, tliat they bri;aii their census with the most eastern parts of the country beyond Jordan.
Verse 6. Tahlim-liodshi^ Where this place was is not exactly known: some think that the words refer to a newly conquered country, as our margin, the ncther'land nezctij inhuhited; and, if so, this was probably the country easticiird of (iilcad, which the Israelites, in the time of Saul, had conquered from the Ilagarenes, and dwelt in it themselves. See 1 Chron. v. 10. where this transaction is recorded.
•To Dun-jaan'] Or, to Dan of the zcoods. This is the place so fr^'qucntly mentioned, situafeil at the foot of mount I/ibanus, near to the source of the Jordan, the most northern city, of nil the possessions of the Israelites, in what was called tho Promised Land; as Deer-sheba was the most southern: hence the common form of speech, From Dan to Beer-sheba, i. e. from north to south.
Verse 7. The strong hold of Tj/re"] This must have been the old city of Tyre, which was built en the main land: the new city was built on a rock in the sp;i.
Verse 8. Nine months and ticentj/ dai/s.^ This was a considerable time: but they had much work to do: nor did they complete the work, as appears from 1 Chron. xxi. 6. xxvii. 24. IVilliain the Cont/neror made a survey of all England, particularizing " how many hides or carucates the laud is taxed at; whose it was in the time of his predecessor Edward; who the present owner and sub-tenants; what, and how much arable land, meadow, pasture, and wood, there is: ha^f much in demesne, i. e. held and cultivated by the landowners; how much in tenantcy, and whr.t number of ploughs it will keep what mills and fisheries; how many sockmen,
drew the sword; and the men of Judah were
freemen, co-libcrti, cotarii, bordarii, radmanni, radchenisters, villains, maid-servants, and bond-men, there are; how many hogs the woods would support; how many churrhet, priests, or [larsniis; w hat custutnary rents, prestations, and services, are to be paid and rendered out of the lands; what has been added to the manor; what has been withheld from it, and by whom; wliat land is waste, and what the whoU was let for in the time of king IvJward; and what the net rent, and whether it was too dear rented, and whether it might be improved." This surrey was begun in the year lOfsO, and was finished in the year 1080; lix years having been emjiloyed in the work. This most important docu* ment is still preserved: it is in the Chapter House, ff'estminster; in two volumes; one folio, on three hundred and eighli/-t2co leaves of vellum; the other in quarto, on four hundred and fiPjj leaves; and is in as good preservation as it was ifffH /im/h//<v/ years ago! This work was much more diflicult than that which was performed by Joab and bis fellows.
Verse 9. In Israel eight hundred thousand — in Judah ^ze hundred thousand] In the parallel place, 1 Chron. xxi. 5. the sums are widely diflercnt: in I«rael one million one hundred thousand; in Judah /our hundred and teventi/ thousand. Neither of these sums is too great; but they cannot be both correct; and which is the true number is dil!icult to say. The former seems the most likely; but more corruptions have taken place in the numbers of the historical books of the Old Testament, than in any other part of the Sacred Re. cords. To attempt to reconcile them, is lost labour: better at once acknowledge, what cannot be successfully denied, that, although the original writers of the Old Testament wrote under the influence of the Uiviae Spirit, yet wo are not told that the same influence descended on all copiers of their words, so as absolutely to prevent them from making mistakes. They might mistake: and they did mis* take.
^B^'.ml' 10 H And * David's heart smote AnExod. isr. him after that he had numbered the Anno ante I. peoplc. And David said unto the
that I have done: and now I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have ' done very foolishly.
11 For when David was up in the morning', the word of the Lord came unto the prophet * Gad, David's ' seer, saying,
12 Go and say unto David, Thus saith the Lord, I offer thee three things; choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.
13 So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him. Shall ^ seven years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee; or that there be three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what an-
Verse 10. David said — / have sinned greatly'] We know not exactly in what this sin consisted. I have already hinted, ver. l.that probably David now began to covet an extension of empire, and purposed to unite some of the neighbouring states with his own; and having, through the suggestions of Satan, or some other adversary, for so the word implies, given way to this covetous disposition, he could not well look to God for help; and, therefore, wished to know whether the thousands of Israel and Judah might be deemed equal io the conquests which he meditated. When God is offended, and refuses assistance, vain is the help of man.
Verse 11. For zchen David was up] It is supposed that David's contrition arose from the reproof given by Gad; and that, in the order of time, the reproof came before the confes.^ion, stated in the KJth verse.
David's seer] A holy man of God, under the Divine influence, whom David had as a domestic chaplain.
Verse 13. Shall seven years of famine] In 1 Chron. xxi. 12. the number is three not sevrn; and here, the Scptuagint has three, the same as in Chronicles: this is, no doubt, the true reading, the letter T tain, slven, being mistaken for: gimel, three. A mistake of this kind might be easily made, from the similarity of the letters.
Verse 14. / am in a great strait: let us full now into the hand of the Lord] David acted nobly in this business: had he chosen war, his own personal safety was in no danger; because there was already an ordinance preventing him from going to battle. Had he chosen /a/«/ne, his own iccalth would have secured his and his own family's support: but he
14 And David said unto Gad, I am Anno ante i. in a great strait: let us fall now into ^^yj^v^^ the hand of the Lord; ^ for his mercies are "" great: and ' let me not fall into the hand of man.
15 H So " the Lord sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beer-sheba seventy thousand men.
16 'And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, " the Lord repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people. It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the Lord was by the threshing-place of " Araunah the Jebusite.
17 And David spake unto the Lord when
shewed the greatness of his mind in choosing the pestilence, to the ravages of which himself and household were exposed equally with the meanest of his subjects.
Verse 15. From the?norning — to the time appointed] That is, from the morning of the day after David had made his election, till the third day, according to the condition which God had proposed, and he had accepted: but it seems that the plague was terminated before the conclusion of the third day; for Jerusalem might have been destroyed, but it was not. Throughout the land, independently of the city, seventy thousand persons were slain! This was a terrible mortality in the space of less (han three days.
Verse 16. The angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem] By what means this destruction took place we know not: it appears that an angel was employed in it; and that this minister of Divine justice actually appeared as an object of sight; for it is said, ver. 17. When David saw the angel that smote the people, he said, &c., and both Oman and his four sons saw him and were affrighted, 1 Chron. xxi. 20.
The threshing-place of Araunah~\ These, we have already seen, were made In the open air. In the parallel place, 1 Chron. xxi. 15, 20, &c. this person is called Oman. The word that we render Araunah, is written in this very chapter njliN Aurnah, ver. l(i. n'Jix Arniuh, ver, 18. njlIK Arunah or Aravnah, ver. 20, and the fi)llowiiig: but in every place in I Chron. xxi. wtiPre it occurs, it is written Jjns Arnun. it is likely he had both names,.i^runu/t and Arnan: but the varieties of spelling in 2 Sam. must arise from the blunders of transcribers.
lliinc liiuid, I pniy (Ik-c, be agaiiiHt nic, iiiid agninsl my fiillxM-'H Iioukc.
18 II And Ciinl ctimc tlint day to Diivid, and said unio liirn, '(io up, rear an allar iiiilo the IjOKI) in tlic lliresliing-lloor of ' Aiuunali llit; Jcl)usile.
20 And Araiinah looked, and saw the king and liis servants coining on towaid liim: and Araunali went out, and bowed himscH' beluie the king on his face upon the ground.
21 And Araniiah said, Wherclore is my lord the king come to his servant? '' And David "-aid, To buy tlie threshing-tloor of thee, to l)nil(l an altar unto the Loud, llial ' the phigue may be stayed iioni the people.
22 And Arannah mikI unto David, \":m:.' Lei my lord the king take and oiler An. i..o<i. u. ui) what HKiitdh iiood nnio liirii: AnnuanK-i.
crilice, and llneshing inslriimentH and olhrr inbtrununlH rd' the tixen for wood
24 And the king t-aid unto Araunah, Nay; hut I A\ill siirclv buy it of thee at a jirice: neither \^ill I (ill'er burnt oflcnngs unto the LoKD my CjocI of that wliic h doth cohI me no- Ihiii"-. Sf) ''Dii\i(i l)oii<:lil the liiresbinir-noor and the oxen for lilty sIm keU of sil\er.
25 And David built there an altar unto the I-(ini), and oilered burnt offerings and peace otVeiiiigs. ' So the Loito \>as inlreated for the land, and ** the plague was ittayed from Israel.
seems that, in llio order of Providence, there is no way of punishing liini^s in their JTg'fi/ capiirity, but l)y nfllirlions on their lant!, in whith the people must necessarily suffer. If the king, therefore, by his own personal offences, in which the people can have no part, brini; down God's judgments upon Ilis people; though they sufl'er innocently, jjrievous ■will be the account that their sovereigns must give to God. The people generally sutler for the miscarriages of their governors: this has been observed in every age,
" When doating moniirchs urge Unsound resolves, their subjects feel the scourge."
Against niy father's house.'] That is, against his own family; even to cut it otf from the face of the earth.
Verse 18. Go up, rear an allar unto the Lord] This place is supposed to be mount Moriah; on which, according to the rabbins, Cain and Abel offered their sacrifices; where.\br;ihani attempted to sacrifice Isaac; and where the temple of Solomon w:is afterwards built.
Verse 2'2. Here be o.r-j/i/o;- 6mjv)/ sac7-//Jcc] He felt for the king, and shewed his loyalty to him by this offer: he felt for the people, and was willing to make any sacrifice to get the plague stayed. He felt for his oicn i>ersonal snfetj/; aiul, therefore, was willing to give up all to save his life. He felt for the honour of God; and, therefore, was glad that he had a sacrifice to offer, so that God might magnify both His justice and mercy.
Verse 23. As a king, give unto the king] Literally, ali these did king Araunah give unto the king. That there could not be a king of the Jebu-ites on mount.Moriah, is sufliciently evident; and that there wa^ no other king than David in the land, is e(|ually so: the word "^Vcn hameUc, " the king," given here to Araunah, is » anting in the Septuagint. Sijriac, and Arabic; in three of Kennicott's and i!).■ Rossi's MSS., and in the |>nrallel place in Chronicles; and, it is very probable, never made a part of the Ifil. Perhaps it should be read, all these did Araunah give unto (he king.
There is, however, a difficulty here. David had taken the fortress of the Jobusites many years In-fore: yet it is evident that.\raunali was proprietor of the soil at this time. It is not clear that he wa-^a subject of David: but he paid him respect, as a neighbour and a king. This is merely potsible.
Ver?e 24. Neither aill I offer burnt offerings'] It is a maxim from heaven, " Honour the Lord with th) substance.'' He who has a religion that costs him nothing, has a religion ' that is iror/A nothing: nor will any man esteem the ordi-; nances of God, if those ordinances cost him nothing. Had Araunnh's noble offer been accepted, it would have lieen Araunah' s sacrifice, not David's; nor vrould it have answered the end of turning away the displeasure of the Most High. It was David that sinned, not Araunah j therefore, David must offer sacrifice.
Verse 25. David — offered burnt offerings'] And that these sacrifices were pleasing to thp Lord, is evident from a circumstance marked in the parallel place, 1 Chron. xxi. 26. David called upon the Lord, and he anszeered him from heuven, by fire upon the altar of burnt offering.
The plague zsas stayed] Jerusalem did not share in the common calamity, seventy thousand being the whole that were slain throughout the land.
This Book is unfinished, and requires 1 Chron. xxii. xxiii. xxiv. XXV. xxvi. xxvii. xxviii. and xxix. to complete it. A few things relative to this history may be found in the beginning of the following Book: but the information ia 1 Chron. is much more extensive and satisfactory.
Masoretic Notes on the tzzo Books of Samuel.
In the time of the Masoretes the two Books of Samuel were considered but as one, and thus divided: —
Number of verses in these two Books, 1506.
The middle verse is 1 Sam. ch. xxviii. ver. 24. And the woman had a fatted calf, and she hasted, and killed it^ and took flour and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof.